Paul Long's Ramblings

  Happy and grateful to God that this week I got a lot of preparation done (the behind-the-scenes stuff). It has been full (maybe even overflowing), and certainly tiring, but happily not "busy". Setting aside the many regular and emergency activities, there has been a lot of preparation (behind the scenes) matters that required my attention. In danger of feeling overwhelmed as many things got "stuck". It has been in a sense of stressful week that is actually a spillover from last week. But by the grace of God, a lot fell into place and was completed this week. This Sunday's sermon. My Easter sermon for next week (but as usual, I expect there will be a few last-minute revisions 😀) Weekly notes for April's bulletins The next home group meeting study questions about Moses' life. My mental block was removed so was able to start work on study questions on the book of Jeremiah Same for a youth Bible study on the book of Acts. While I still have 5 more Sunday ...

Thanks, everyone for the birthday wishes via FB, FB messenger, regular text, and WhatsApp. I am not one that is big on celebrating my birthdays. But since it was my 60th, the one thing I did was take the day off to relax. I did some reading, watched TV, and played a PC game. No not Civ 6 or Xcom2 but something different - Age of Empires 4. Rather educational cut scenes too 😁 No special meals as my wife had to work. But on Monday she made me a huge cheesecake and a large tray of lasagna. 😋 And I ate that for three meals 🤣 Monday night's dinner, and yesterday for lunch and dinner. No complaint. was good. My plan was to attend a magic lecture last night BUT, plans for derailed due to helping sort out my wife's car. The lecture was part of my personal birthday plans 🙁BUT all good, wife comes first! I told my family NOT to buy me anything as I think can end up being a waste of money if it ends up being something I don't really want or need. Instead, I decided to buy myself ...

  Another sermon ppt notes from last year. On Anxiety based on Psalm 31. Hope this helps someone. 

 Posting my sermon ppt on this topic as this is such a problem. It's a narrow focus - the pain of rejection, and just about starting the first steps. Hope this may be of help to some. 🙏  

  Have recently been re-reading (slowly) Eugene Peterson's "The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the art of spiritual direction". A key reason for re-reading is that it has probably been 20 years since I first read this book, and my hope is that over the years, my perspective on life and ministry would have grown deeper. New experiences and growth in perspectives(s) I think often bring helpful insights to good books. And now, I also have the Logos version of the book so it's a fresh interesting way of interactive reading (not just the printed paper, but reading on a handheld device and on a PC). Been re-reading a few times his chapter on "The Unbusy Pastor". I think I cannot help but be busy as that is a part of who I am. But I have been for a few weeks now consciously doing my best to avoid describing myself or my schedule and activities as "busy". It's probably just "semantics" and splitting hairs but I do think that either not us...